It’s my annual warning this time of year — when you hear a trade rumor think, “which team would benefit from that going public?” Usually that will lead you to where it was leaked. And no team is going to make a trade unless it benefits them — both sides need to see it as a win for a trade to happen (whether or not all of us on the outside think it’s a win, the team may).

A lot of rumors this time of year have little to no basis in reality — one team likes an idea and it gets floated publicly to see if that will help it gain some momentum. And some are just made up out of thin air.

He admitted he once had a contest with coaching pals to see who could get an outlandish rumor into the newspaper first.

“We make up some trade that never was proposed in 100 years and suddenly it’s on ESPN,” he said, smiling.

And here’s the thing — if you’re a reporter and you get a rumor from George Karl (or any NBA coach or assistant coach) that’s a very solid source and you might well run with it. Even if it makes no sense, you got it from the coach.

So again, just be skeptical the next couple weeks. There will be trades — hello J.J. Redick — but when you hear a rumor this is a good time to start of cynical and go from there.

The Atlanta Hawks have been pursuing Pau Gasol, The Times has learned. Nothing imminent, but Josh Smith would be key piece going to Lakers.

Separately, Lakers interested in Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, would be open to trading Pau for Top-5 pick and right package o’ players

A Gasol for Smith swap (there would need to be other players to make it work) is interesting, but does it make either team significantly better? The Hawks would get the better player but the Lakers would get the shorter contract (Smith has just one year left).

I don’t see the Lakers jumping into the draft’s top 5 — which is where they would need to be to get Kidd-Gilchrist, or even the top 10. It may be the Lakers pipe dream, but no team is in the top 10 is going to give them a pick and an established, quality player for Gasol. Doesn’t work for the other teams.

Unless… What if the Rockets are able to parlay their three picks (numbers 12, 16 and 18) into a top 10 pick, then they could trade the Lakers Kyle Lowry plus the top 10 pick for Gasol? Rockets GM Daryl Morey has had his eye on Gasol for a while (remember the scuttled Chris Paul trade?). However, ESPN sources deny this trade scenario is in play.

But Gasol is not the only guy the Lakers are shopping, but it might not work. From ESPN.

The Lakers might have an even tougher sell with Metta World Peace, who also has been shopped in order to gauge his trade value. While the Lakers would be looking for considerably less, such as a late first-round pick or perhaps some cap relief, World Peace’s contract obligations (two years, $15 million remaining on his deal) — combined with a 15 percent trade kicker — might prove too much for another team to bear.

My guess is still the Lakers don’t make a move until this summer, but they will make a move.

In all the buzz about the Rockets trading Chase Budinger to get the No. 18 pick — a move clearly a precursor to other moves — there was a lot of talk about who might get moved with a pick so Houston can move up.

Rockets shooting guard Kevin Martin is also a possibility to be dealt. He has just one year left on his contract (worth $12.9 million) and is not looking to re-sign in Houston, according to sources close to him.

He certainly can shoot the rock — he averaged 17.1 points per game and shot 34.7 percent from three last season, and that was off from previous seasons when he shot much better — and while a team may not want to keep him at that price he has real value.

Just a name to watch as we know the Rockets are looking to make moves and shake things up.

Lots of teams calling Denver to trade for Nuggets’ young players. 1 of several moves being discussed: Wilson Chandler to G State for 7th pick

Wilson Chandler could fit with Golden State playing the three — if he is fully back from the hip surgery he had that ended his last season. He’s a quality small forward who can hit the three and defend. If this went through, Golden State’s starting lineup would be Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Chandler, David Lee and Andrew Bogut. If that lineup stays healthy (there are questions) and if the guys who have been injured can return to near former form, that’s a pretty good starting five.

As for Denver, they can get another quality young player at 7 — Dion Waiters, roll the dice on Andre Drummond, maybe Jeremy Lamb — who George Karl can coach up.

It may not be this move, but don’t be shocked if Denver makes a move and if Golden State jumps out of the No. 7 spot.

With its core getting up there in years (save Rajon Rondo), the Boston Celtics need to add some more scoring firepower. You could see it in the playoffs against Philly (and through the regular season).

Jamal Crawford is walking, talking firepower. Or at least he was a couple years ago. The former Sixth Man of the Year has a history of just coming in and lighting it up.

Which is why the Celtics are interested in him and have reached out to Portland talking about a draft-day trade, reports Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. But the Celtics are not alone.

The Portland Trail Blazers are fielding trade offers for guard Jamal Crawford and the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Boston Celtics are among the teams actively pursuing the scoring specialist intensely, a league source tells CSNNW.com.

Other teams who have shown diminutive interest are the Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns according to a person familiar with the situation.

Boston has picks 21 and 22, which might appeal to Portland (which already has No. 6 and No. 11 in this draft).

There is a good chance Crawford is traded on draft night. Crawford is in the middle of a two-year contract but with an opt-out after this season that has to be used by Friday. He can be traded on draft night and then either opt-in with his new team or, more likely, opt-out of his deal and re-sign with his new team using Bird rights.

If he’s not traded draft night he will opt out and become a free agent.

Crawford can score, but the past couple years he’s taken a step back to average. Last season in Portland he averaged 14 points a game and shot just 38.4 percent (and 30 percent from three). His PER has been right around the league average of 15 the past two years, well off the 18.4 of his Sixth Man of the Year season in Atlanta. He will turn 32 next season.

Which is to say, how much Crawford thinks he is worth and teams might pay are different things. But smart teams have this discussion with Crawford’s agent (through back channels if need be) before making a trade.